Carolyn DeFord : “Oregon Report: Missing Native American Women Emergency”

Carolyn DeFord was seeking change. She was searching for answers. For 24 years, she has been yearning for closure.

On Feb. 18, 2019, DeFord embarked on a familiar journey from her residence in central Washington to Oregon. This trip was not like the others. She was on her way to testify at the Oregon Capitol in hopes of shedding light on the disappearance of her mother, Leona Kinsey, who went missing from her home in La Grande, Oregon, in 1998.

At the heart of her testimony was a groundbreaking bill in Oregon that aimed to declare missing Native American women a statewide emergency. The bill proposed an investigation into the crisis and a comprehensive report to delve into the root causes of the issue. DeFord, a member of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, saw this as a potential game-changer.

“I went with the hope of having a few minutes to share my story,” DeFord recalled.

She recounted the perplexing disappearance of her mother, who vanished without a trace. The familiar sights of home, like the brewing coffee and the dogs in the yard, were there, but Leona was nowhere to be found. Nearly a quarter of a century later, Leona remains missing, with no arrests made in connection to her case.

Although the 2019 bill sponsored by Rep. Tawna Sanchez passed, the impact fell short of DeFord’s expectations.

Fast forward five years, and despite various state and federal reports, proposed enhancements, and public engagements, minimal progress has been made in implementing key recommendations to enhance data management, information sharing, and trust-building between tribal communities and law enforcement.

Challenges in Progress

Key leaders have largely remained silent on the lack of advancement. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek admitted in December that she had not revisited the issue since her time in the Legislature or reviewed the recommendations of a task force report bearing her name.

While efforts to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people have been hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the absence of a centralized system for data sharing and investigative coordination remains a critical challenge.

Desiree Coyote, a vocal advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous persons, expressed disappointment in the system’s failure to address the needs of Indigenous communities. She highlighted the ongoing invisibility of Native voices in decision-making processes.

Sanchez, the second Indigenous person to serve in the Oregon Legislature, acknowledged the lack of tangible progress and hinted at potential legislation to drive improvements in data collection and coordination.

Recognizing the Crisis

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the crisis surrounding the disproportionate disappearances and murders of Indigenous individuals, particularly women.

Nationally, the unresolved cases of missing and murdered Indigenous people are estimated to be in the thousands. The prevalence of violence against Native American and Alaska Native populations underscores the urgency of addressing this crisis.

Oregon’s legislation called for a comprehensive study by the Oregon State Police to enhance protective, investigative, and responsive resources for missing and murdered Indigenous women in the state.

While the bill passed unanimously, its impact has been limited. The subsequent report made key recommendations, including partnerships between law enforcement agencies, educational initiatives on Native history and culture for officers, and improved data sharing mechanisms.

Oregon State Police has taken steps to implement some of the recommendations, appointing a coordinator to oversee the agency’s response to missing and murdered Indigenous persons cases.

Building Trust and Data Management

One of the major hurdles identified in addressing the crisis is the lack of trust between Indigenous communities and law enforcement. Distrust, rooted in historical injustices and systemic biases, hampers collaborative efforts to address missing and murdered Indigenous persons cases.

Efforts to improve data collection and sharing have also faced challenges, with inconsistent methods across agencies hindering accurate quantification of the crisis.

Washington state’s more robust centralized data system serves as a model for Oregon to consider. Implementing a similar system could enhance information sharing and notification processes for missing Indigenous persons cases.

Seeking Closure for Leona Kinsey

For DeFord, the journey to find her missing mother has been fraught with challenges. Despite advocacy efforts and multiple reviews of her mother’s case file, there has been little progress in uncovering the truth behind Leona’s disappearance.

Advocates continue to push for community-led initiatives and improved data management systems to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous persons effectively.

InvestigateWest is an independent news nonprofit dedicated to investigative journalism in the Pacific Northwest. Reporter Melanie Henshaw covers Indigenous affairs and communities in the region. Contact her directly at melanie@invw.org or at (971) 258-1430.